Dental Assistant - High Point (0.5 FTE)

Neighborcare Health Career•Seattle, WA

About The Position

The Dental Assistant provides chairside support to the Dentist and/or Dental Hygienist for scheduled procedures and prepares and maintains dental instruments and equipment needed to support patient treatment. The role works in partnership with other team members to support Neighborcare Health’s mission, guiding principles, service commitments, and goals. Direct patient care includes preparing the operatory and instruments for procedures; interviewing patients and collecting vital signs; performing select preventive and assisting procedures; taking digital x-rays, intraoral photos, and digital scans; taking and pouring impressions; fabricating provisional crowns; mixing materials; and passing instruments while following aseptic techniques and safety standards. The Dental Assistant anticipates and responds to patient needs under dentist supervision. Indirect patient care includes routine equipment maintenance, reviewing charts, preparing the clinic for the next day, coordinating with dental providers about schedules, participating in huddles and meetings, scheduling appointments in the EHR as needed, and contacting patients about care needs with accurate documentation in the EDR. The role also requires maintaining ethical standards and promptly reporting safety events. This is a 0.5 FTE position at Neighborcare Health’s High Point location. The listed target wage range is $27.08 to $34.04 per hour, with final offers based on factors including skills, experience, location, qualifications, and work schedule. The position is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW and includes a $5,000 sign-on bonus based on FTE.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Current Washington State Department of Health Dental Assistant license.
BLS certification.
Minimum of 280 hours of chairside dental assisting experience.
Ability to work in a fast-paced and complex health care environment.
Ability to comply with HIPAA and confidentiality policies and procedures and handle confidential, sensitive patient and staff information.
Knowledge of and adherence to asepsis, universal precautions, and sterilization processes.
Knowledge and understanding of dental terminology, instruments, and procedures.
Ability to work respectfully and effectively with people of varying ethnicities, socioeconomic levels, cultures, and sexual orientations.
Ability to conduct discussions of a sensitive nature with staff and patients.
Ability to build relationships while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
Ability to develop collaborative working relationships that foster a positive, team-oriented work environment.
Effective time management skills.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with computers, email, and electronic medical and dental records.
Completion of an accredited Dental Assistant program.
One year of dental assisting experience.

Responsibilities

Prepare the operatory, including cleaning and disinfection, and set up instruments, materials, and appropriate anesthetic for scheduled procedures.
Provide chairside assistance for restorative work, surgical extractions, basic endodontics, scaling and root planing, pediatrics, and removable prosthodontics.
Interview patients about the reason for their visit and collect vital signs such as blood pressure.
Place sealants; perform fluoride treatments and coronal polishing; and provide oral hygiene instruction.
Take digital x-rays, intraoral photos, and digital scans.
Take and pour impressions and fabricate provisional crowns.
Mix materials and place rubber dams, matrices, and wedges.
Pass instruments while maintaining aseptic techniques and appropriate safety standards.
Anticipate and appropriately respond to patient needs under dentist supervision.
Perform routine equipment maintenance as assigned by a supervisor and/or Lead.
Review patient charts before treatment.
Prepare the clinic for the next day's schedule and appointments.
Communicate with dental providers about daily schedules to optimize the patient experience.
Participate in team huddles, sharing patient-specific insights and helping anticipate needs and care gaps.
Schedule patient appointments in the EHR as needed.
Call patients regarding care needs and document accurately and appropriately in the EDR as directed.
Participate in back-office dental meetings, huddles, and staff meetings.
Maintain ethical standards and report safety events in a timely manner.
Provide courteous, service-oriented support and anticipate dental providers' needs.